ST. GEORGE  Warren Jeffs was found guilty of two counts of rape as an accomplice today in 5th District Court here.

Washington County Attorney Brock Belnap called it a "just verdict."

"They applied the law to the facts," he said of the jury, which started deliberations Friday.

Belnap also praised victim Elissa Wall, calling her "a pioneer."

"There always has to be someone willing to go first," he said.

Belnap would not comment further, saying there are more cases pending, as well as Jeffs' upcoming sentencing.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 20, and Jeffs, 51, faces a possible sentence of 5 years to life in prison.

Wall spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after the verdict was handed down.

"When I was young, my mother taught me that evil flourishes when good men do nothing," she said. "This has not been easy for us. The easy thing would have been to do nothing."

Wall said she spoke the truth, and she sent a message of love and support to her mother and sisters within the FLDS Church.

"I have very tender feelings for the FLDS people. There is so much good in them," she said. "I pray they will find the strength to step back and reexamine what they have been told to believe and follow their hearts."

Wall said the trial was not about religion or any vendetta she harbors against Jeffs and the FLDS Church. Wall has filed a multimillion-dollar civil suit against Jeffs over the marriage.

Richard Holm, an ex-FLDS Church member who was ousted by Jeffs, was in the courtroom when the verdict was read.

"If Warren Jeffs spent one day in jail for all the people he's hurt, he'd spend several dozen years," Holm said. "He's got a trail of blood and bones."

Upon hearing the verdict, Elaine Tyler shrieked with joy. She is the director of the HOPE Organization, which helps women and children leaving abusive situations in the polygamous communities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz.

"This verdict is a victory for the many victims who have been hurt by Warren Jeffs and have been too afraid to speak out," Shurtleff said. "Everyone should now know that no one is above the law, religion is not an excuse for abuse and every victim has a right to be heard.

"Let this verdict be a warning to anyone else who believes that forcing young girls to marry older men is acceptable and without consequence. The state of Utah will continue to be vigilant in pursuing anyone who breaks the law, no matter where they live or what they believe. Today's verdict is just the beginning of a long journey to seek justice for all."

In an interview with the Deseret Morning News from his hospital bed, recovering from a motorcycle accident, Shurtleff said he felt the jury during the trial "really got" what Wall had been forced to do.

"We know he's going to spend a significant amount of time in prison," Shurtleff said of Jeffs. "And we can do what we need to as far as ongoing investigations."

The Utah Attorney General's office has been conducting an organized crime probe into Jeffs and the FLDS Church. Shurtleff has been pushing to see evidence the FBI seized from a Cadillac Escalade Jeffs was in when he was arrested outside Las Vegas last year.

Popular Comments

Why can't they charge Jeffs with polygamy since that is what this is all about?
Also, if the 19 year old cousin did rape his 14 year old cousin, why isn't he
being charged for rape?

1:47 p.m. Sept. 25, 2007

Top comment

Dear Curious

Because they're not legal marriages, just a bunch of people living together.
They're "spiritual marriages". It's when the men become sexual predators on the
young women, that illegalities are incurred.